Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-06
FRUIT DESTROYERS.
How to Rid Orchards OF
Insects.
THE LEGISLATION ASKED FOR.
Local Inspectors Wanted for Each
County-A special Tax ON
Orchards to Pay Them.


yesterday afternoon. 1t was really an
Informal discussion OF the subject be-
fore the meeting-.he disposition of in
secss-as there was not a quorum pres
ent and no business could be transacted
officially. Prof. Hilgard occupied the
chair, and Secretary Wickson read sew
eral communications from California
representatives al Washington in regard
to the establishment of experimental
stations in connection with the agricul-
tural colleges. They all spoke favorably
of the measure. aud said they would as
sist in securing the passage of the bull.
The Secretary also read a communica'
ton he had received from P. j. Rudi-
sill, of Riverside. in regard to medals
awarded at the New Orleans Exposition.
The letter was to the effect that 1t re-
auired about $500 to secure all the
Society silver and gold medals awarded
to exhibitors from this State. The letter
further referred to a plan proposed at
Riverside to ask tho Legislature to do
nate the amount above indicated from
the money returned by Commissioner
Andrews to the State. should the Leg
islature make the appropriation sought
for. the medals are to be placed for two
or three years, en- nfasss, on exhibition
at ali Stare and District fairs that will
guarantee proper protection and care.
A letter from VIM. II. III. Judson of
New Orleans, who was interested in the
California exhibit at the New Orleans
Exposition, called attention to the fact
that there stood to the societys credit
in the hands of the exposition three
premiums. One was for SlC0 silver
medal for the best collection of fruit
trees adapted to the section between the
forty second and thirty-fifth parallels.
Another of $50 for the best snecimeu of
date palms, and another of so.
MIR. klee, the State Fruit Inspector,
introduced the stated subject for discus
sion. "There are two bills" he said,
"before the Legislature; one refers to
the insects, and the other is q new bill
made no OF two old ones. This latter
bill is for the establishment of county
boards Mr.. klee was of the opinion
that as the present law is practically
imperative In the matter of the de-
struction of fruit pests 1t might be a
good idea to levy q tax on the orchards
themselves to pay local inspectors. Mr..
Klee desired to call the attention of the
society to the bill In order to obtain an
expression of opinion The following is
a Synopsis of the bill as introduced by
Senator Ross:
All fruit trees, ornamental trees, vines,
plants or shrubs infested by any insect,
or infected by disease known to be inju-
rious to fruit or fruit trees, etc., and
liable to spread contagion, must be
cleaned or disinfected before the first
dsy of April every year. All owners on
occupants of lands on which fruit trees
are grown, failing to comply with the
provisions of this Act, shall be guilty oi
> misdemeanor, and upon complaint oi
the Inspector of Fruit Pests. tue Distric;
Attorney of tine county shall bring an
action against the offending parties.
Any one offering for sale fruit or orua-
mental trees. shrubs or vines that are
infested with injurious insects. shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
Il shall be the duty of the local
Inspector of Pests of the district to fur
nish on application after due examina-
ton to any person shipping trees, a
certificate to the effect that the shipment
is free from injurious insects aud germs.
1t shall be the duty Of the local In
spectors in each county, whenever in
formed by complaint of any person re-
siding in such county that the premises
OF a certain person are infected with in
furious insects. shall inspect the prem
ises, and If found infected snail notify
the owner to disinfecs the same within a
certain time, and If he does not do it
civil action will be taken
This bin, Mr.. kles believes. viii meet
all requirements.
Judge Biackwood had an impression
that wnen the bill came ont of the mill
it would not be known because of the
amendments.
Mr.. Hatch did not like the plan and
did not believe it could be carried cut
successfully. He did not believe the
State would do uything in the premises.
Prof. Hilgard said the State had fos-
tered mining and agriculture, and why
should not the State assist the fruit
growers.
Inspector Klee said chat the inspector
could not go all around the State and he
would have TO have assistance.
James Shinn said a msn could not be
found to act as local Inspector. He
might go to a neighbor, find bugs on his
trees and have to order him to cut them
down. No local inspector would like to
do that. He thought an amendment in
the present inspection law should be
secured though.
Inspector klee spoke at some length
on the best method OF treating trees
troubled with insects. He spoke in
favor of using good alkaline washes.
He said that in examining trees that
had been sprayed with soda lye alone
on a sunny day it will sometimes be
found that within an hour after the
spraying the dry portions are covered
with a network of small white needles,
resembling white frost. These needles
are simply solid carbonate of soda, and
show that by the action of the dry air
the causticity of the I've has been quickly
DESTROYED. The common sal-soda has
taken its place, and the action is prac-
tically at an end. The use of the potash
compounds in connection with the soda
I've aids materially in maintaining the
active corrosion more or less indepen-
denily of moist weather, by preventing
the rapid evaporation and solidifcation
that so oftenputs premature end to it.
Moreover, the potash compounds so
used ultimately reach aud remain in the
soil. and act as fertilizer when needed,
80 that the money spent on them is not
gone with the insects. There Is a great
reason for washing in the Winter. as
something can be used strong enough to
get the old insects without destroying
the tree.
WE. West named several of the in
sects that inhahit the orchards, and
spoke of the ladybug laying a great
many eggs.